Copying machine



March 1o, 1942. M A, OTZ 2,275,778

COPYING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 2, 1939 BY Y/Q Y ATTORNEYS March 10, 1942. M. A. LoTz COPYING MACHINE Filed May 2, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .wks

INVENToR BY Meyran A. Loz

ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 10, 1942 UNITED STATES? `PiiTEN'l" OFFICE COPYING MACHINE Meyran A. Lotz, Mount Vernon, N. Y.

Application May 2, 1939, Serial No. 271,245

7 Claims. (Cl. 95-77.5)

This invention relates to copying machines and more particularly to that class of devices used in copying by means of light such as commonly employed in connection with diazo. and blue printing and the like.

One of the objects of the device is to make a compact machine for use in the average oice. It may be made relatively small in size, say 15 by 20 inches, as compared with the much larger and more cumbersome machines previously used.

Another object is to provide a machine which is simple and cheap in construction and entirely self-contained so that it may be readily transported from place to place.

Another object of the invention is to combine with the printing machine per se a suitable developing outfit so that various printing papers may be used and the entire reproducing process completed quickly and with a minimum of effort.

A further object is to provide a machine of the character described in which the printing paper is brought in intimate contact with the matter to be copied and is held securely locked thereto during the printing process.

Other objects will be apparent from the following specification and drawings in which several forms of the device are described and shown. It will be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise forms herein described, as modications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the append ed claims. The invention is, of course, not limited in respect to the size of the apparatus and may beadapted to take any size sheet desired.

Referring to the drawings- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of an apparatus embodying the invention, the section being generally on the lines Figure 2';

Figure 2 is a top View of the device shown in Figure 1 with the clamping blanket released;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view. on the lines 3 3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectionalview similar to Figure 3 with the printing cylinder in its elevated position;

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the printing cylinder shown in the preceding figures;

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view on the lines 6--6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is ay longitudinal section of the developing mechanism onthe lines 1-1 of Figure 8;

Figure 8 is an enlarged cross section of the developing mechanism shown in Figure 3;

Figure 9 is a similar View showing the sealing cover of the developer mechanism in closed position;

Figure 10 is a detail View showing the manner of removing the developing tank and rollers from the apparatus;

Figure 11 is an enlarged fragmentary detail View of the upper edge of the clamping blanket.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4, the numeral 20 designates a casing provided with feet 2| and having a lower forward extension 22. Upper and lower supporting. members 23 and 24 are provided in the casing 20, the lower member 24 being disposed on the bottom 25. Two parallel vertical guide rods 2S are secured at their ends to the members 23 and 24, as shown in Figure 1.

A carriage 21 has at its opposite sides, sleeve members 28 slidably guided on the rods 26.

A cross shaft 29 is journaled in the rear portion of the casing and is equipped with an eX- terior crank handle 30 by which it may be revolved. Two small drums 3| are secured to opposite ends of the portion of the shaft 29 which lies within the casing. Light cables 32 are fastened to the drums 3| and are adapted to be wound thereon. From the drums 3| the cables 32 are led over pulleys 33 in the top of the casing 20, thence vertically downward to fastening lugs 34 on the guide sleeves 28.

It will be evident by reference to Figure 1 that if the crank 30 is revolved the cables 32 are wound on the drums 3|, and thus elevate the carriage 21.

A transparent or translucent cylinder 35 is secured on the carriage 21, preferably in such position that its axis lies directly between the guide rods 26.

A lamp socket 36 on a suitable xture 31 is adapted to support a lamp bulb 38 in the center line of the cylinder 35. A limit switch 39, located in the bottom of the casing 20, is connected by any suitable wiring between the lamp socket 36 and an exterior connecting cord 40. The switch 39 may be of any suitable type and is equipped with a vertical actuating rod 4| extending through a lug 42 on the carriage 21. Upper and lower limit nuts 43, 44 on the rod 4| are adapted to be engaged by the lug 42 at the upper and lower limits of travel of the carriage 21. By this means, the switch 39 may be closed at the top of the carriage travel, and opened when the carriage descends to its lower position shown in Figure 3.

The numeral 45 indicates a clamping blanket of vertical extent approximately equal to that of the transparent cylinder 35 and of such length that when wrapped about the cylinder and clamped tightly lby means of a suitable clamping latch 46, as shown in Figures l and 6, it envelopes substantially the entire circumference of the cylinder.

The blanket 45 may be made of any suitable fabric, such as canvas or the like. The upper and lower herns of the blanket have loosely disposed therein light spring strips 41, as shown in enlarged detail in Figure l1. The end hems 48 of the blanket 45 contain stiffening members 49 (Figure 6).

A vertical support 58 secured to the rear side of the carriage 2T carries a vertically disposed leaf spring l. The upper and lower ends of the spring 5l extend into pockets 52 on the back of the blanket 45, as shown in Figures 5 and l1. The spring 5I is of greater stiffness than the hem springs 4l so that when the blanket 45 is released from the cylinder 35, the spring 5l draws the blanket rearwardly and holds it clear of the cylinder 35, as shown in Figure 2, the ends of the blanket being pressed against the guide rods 25.

A light-tight chimney 53 is mounted on the top of the cylinder 35 and a downwardly extending skirt 54 is provided on the bottom of the carriage 2l to prevent egress of light as hereinafter set forth.

The numeral 55 indicates a funnel-shaped shield surrounding the bottom portion of the lamp bulb 38. An inverted or mushroom-shaped reflector 56 is held above the upper center of the lamp bul-b by means of a narrow metallic strip 51 secured to the shield 55.

A gear wheel 58 on the shaft 29 is provided to connect the latter with a timing device 59 mounted in the upper rear portion of the casing 20, and preferably provided with a countersunk adjusting knob 60 and dial 6l, as shown in Figure 2. The timing device 59 may be of any suitable type, and as such mechanisms are well known in the art, no further description thereof need be given herein. The gear 58 is connected to its supporting shaft 29 by means of a small one-way clutch preferably comprising a small helical spring S2 adapted to grip the shaft when the latter is revolved in one direction, but to release it in the reverse direction. The provision of this one-way clutch prevents injury to the timing device 59 when the crank 30 is operated as hereinafter described.

The forwardly extending portion 22 of the casing 20 contains a developing tank 63 shown in enlarged detail in Figures 7 to 10.

Referring to Figure 7, it will be seen that the tank E3 has rotatably mounted therein a roller 64 preferably of rubber or the like, provided with a handle 65 extending outwardly through a slot 66 in the casing extension 22. Small slotted supports 61 on the top 68 of the tank 63 rotatably carry a second roller 69 resting on the roller 84 and lightly urged against the latter by means of light spring loops T0 (Figures '7 and 10).

The tank 63 is normally held in the casing extension 22 by means of bottom clamps H which press the tank upwardly against angle brackets l2. The bottom clamps 'Il may be swung about pivots 'I3 to allow the tank 63 and its associated rollers to be removed bodily from the bottom of the casing extension 22, as illustrated in Figure l0, for purposes of filling or cleaning.

The lower roller B4 is so located that the upper portion of its periphery extends through the top plate 58, the plate 68 comprising a guide for the paper being developed, as hereinafter noted.

An inverted cover member 14 is secured in the casing portion 22 by means of fiat spring strips l5 in such position that it overlies and partially envelopes the upper roller 69.

A resilient gasket 16 is secured around the bottom rim of the cover 14 so as to overlie the upper plate 68 of the tank 63. The springs I5 holds the cover I4 upward against a small clamping cam 'll rotatably mounted in the top of the casing portion 22 and provided with an exterior handle 18. In operating position as shown in Figure 8, the cover 14 is held clear of the tank 63, but when the developing mechanism is not in 4operation the clamping cam 11 may be swung as shown in Figure 9 to force the cover 14 downward and cause the gasket 16 to form a tight seal around the opening in the top 68 of the developing tank. This arrangement prevents spilling of any developing solution contained in the tank while the device is being moved from place to place. A resilient sealing washer 18 is provided about the shaft 88 of the lower roller G4 where the latter passes through the end of the tank 63 to prevent leakage at this point.

A curved guide member 8| is secured in the top of the casing extension 22 below a feed slot 82 therein, and is adapted to guide a sheet of paper 83 forwardly along the plate 68 and into engagement with the rollers 54 and 58, as shown in Figure 8.

The casing 23 may be provided with hinged front doors 84 and an upper cover 85, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. When the machine is not in operation, the doors 84 may be closed across the front of the casing 28 and the cover 85 swung d-own over their upper edges thus completely enclosing the printing apparatus; but when in operation, the doors are swung backward against the side of the casing as shown in Figure 2, and the cover 85 may be swung downward along the casing back, as shown in Figure 3, thus placing these members out of the way of the operator.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The doors 84 and cover 85 being open, as noted above, the blanket 45 is released and allowed to stand in the open position shown in Figures 2 and 5. The operator places a sheet to be copied with its rear side against the sensitized face of a suitable printing paper. The two sheets, hereinafter designated by the numerals 86 and 83 respectively, are then raised above the top of the cylinder 35 and drawn down behind it as shown in Figure 5, the lower edges of the two sheets engaging small resilient clips 88 extending upwardly around the lower end of the cylinder. It will be understood that the clips 88 are very thin and flexible and serve to hold the two sheets temporarily in position and in proper registry during the closing of blanket 45.

The sheets having been placed in the above position, the blanket 45 is drawn forward by its front edges land tightly clamped around the cylinder 35 by means of the latch 46. The sheet 86 and sensitized paper 83 are thereby pressed tightly together and against the exterior surface of the cylinder.

The operator next revolves the crank 30, winding the cables 32 on the drums 3| and elevating the carriage and cylinder assembly to the position shown in Figure 4, in which position the lamp bulb 38 lies below the bottom of the cylinder 35 and within the skirt 54.

As the carriage 21 reaches its upper position as shown, the lug 42 encounters the nut 43 on the switch rod 4I, moving the latter upward, closing the switch 39 to illuminate the lamp bulb 38.

The operator then releases the handle 38;. the carriage and cylinder assembly then travels downward by gravity along the guide rods 25, its speed of travel being regulated by the timing mechanism 59 through the gear 58, which is revolved by the shaft 29 through the clutch 62 as the cables 32 unwind from their drums. The lamp 38 is co-axial with the cylinder 35 and its upper reflector 56 and lower shield 55 cause a band of illumination from the lamp to be shed outwardly through the transparent cylinder to the data sheet 86; the light rays penetrate the data sheet 86 in proportion to the translucency of different portions thereof and form a corresponding image on the sensitized paper 83.

The nal or bottom position of the cylinder 35, as shown in Figure 3, is such that in this position the light band from the lamp 38 is above the upper extremity of the cylinder; while in starting position (Figure 4) as previously noted, the light band falls below the lower extremity of the cylinder. Due to these arrangements and the fact that the downward movement of the cylinder 35 is kept at uniform speed by the timing mechanism 59, the light band is applied to all portions of the data sheet 88 for an equal length of time so that the image impressed on the sensitized paper 83 is of uniform intensity. A small shadow cast by the reflector support 51 falls directly in front of the cylinder-that is. in line with the clamped edges cf the blanket 45-into which zone, as shown in Figure 6, the data sheet 86 and sensitized paper 83 do not extend, so that this shadow has no effect on the uniformity of the print. A

As the cylinder and carriage assembly approach their lower position (Figure 3)l the lug 42 engages the lower nut 44 on rod 4|, opening the switch k39 and extinguishing the lamp 38.

It will be seen that the provision of the automatic closing and opening of the light switch results in a minimum current consumption, minimum development of heat and a maximum life for the lamp bulb 38, which is preferably of the high powered type commonly known as a photoflood lamp.

The printing operation having been completed as described above, the clamping latch 46 is released, allowing the blanket 45 to spring back to the open position shown in Figure 2, and the operator removes the data sheet 86 and sensitized paper 83. He then inserts the paper 83, the sensitive face to the rear, in the slot 82 and pushes the paper downward. The curved guide 8| (Figure 8) and plate 6B having guided the paper 83 into engagement between the rollers 64 and 69, the operator revolves the roller crank 65, thus feeding the paper forward between the rollers and outward through a second slot 8l in front of the casing extension 22. The tank 53 contains a suitable developing fluid, and as the roller 84 revolves therein it carries a film of duid upward and applies it uniformly to the sensitive face of the paper 83, developing an image thereon in the usual manner. When the entire paper has been passed through the rollers, the operator places it on any suitable surface to dry, thus completing the copying operation.

Obviously, if desired, a number of printing exposures may be made successively and the developing of all prints may be carried outat the end of the run.

The form of device just described in whichthe cylinder 35 is moved past the lamp 38 is especially suited to smaller sizes of printing machines suitableA for use on desks. The loading of the cylinder is accomplished from above, the short vertical height of the apparatus being small enough to permit such loading without undue reaching on the part of the operator.

In the device shown in Figure 3 the lamp 38 if desired may be silvered on its top side and also upward a short distance from the neck of the globe to provide a light shield and reflecting means by which the circular band of light may be produced, in which case the shield andthe reflector 56 may be-omitted.

While the device has been described in preferred forms, it is not limited to the precise structures illustrated as various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a copying machine, in combination, a casing, vertical guide members in said casing, a movable carriage slidable on said guide members and adapted to descend along the same by gravity, a transparent cylinder on said carriage, means to clamp a copy sheet and a sensitized sheet on the periphery of said cylinder, a light source in said casing and co-axial with said cylinder, means to elevate said carriage and cylinder above the level of said light source, and means to govern the speed of descent of said carriage and cylinder along said guides to a level below the level of said light source.

2. In a copying machine, in combination, a casing, vertical guide members in said casing, a movable carriage slidable on said guide members and adapted to descend along the same by gravity, a transparent cylinder on said carriage, means to clamp a copy sheet and a sensitized sheet on the periphery of said cylinder, a light source in said casing and co-aXial with said cylinder, a shaft in said casing, drums on said shaft, pulleys in the upper part of said casing, cables secured to said drums, said cables being guided over said pulleys and attached to said support, means to rotate said shaft for winding said cables on said drums and thereby elevating said support and cylinder past said light source, and means to govern the reverse rotation of sai-d shaft whereby said support and cylinder may be permitted to descend by gravity at predetermined speed.

3. In a copying machine, in combination, a support, a transparent cylinder on said support, a blanket adapted to envelope the exterior of said cylinder, means on the edges of said blanket to clamp the same together and thereby hold said blanket tightly about said cylinder, and means including a spring extending substantially the length of said cylinder and overlying the blanket thereon lto retract said blanket from said cylinder when said clamping means is released.

4. The combination claimed in claim 3 wherein said retracting means includes spring members in the hems of said blanket and a third spring member attached to said support and eX- tending substantially the length of said cylinder and having ends engaging said blanket adjacent said hems, said third spring member being of greater stiffness than said other spring members.

5. In a device of the character described, a

casing, a lamp in said casing, a transparent platen movable vertically past said lamp, a rotatable shaft in said casing, means operatively connecting said shaft to said platen whereby said platen may be elevated by rotation of said shaft in one direction and whereby said shaft may be rotated in the reverse direction by descent of said platen, governing means in said casing and operable by said shaft to govern said speed of descent, and a one-way clutch operatively disposed between said shaft and governing means whereby said governing means is disengaged from said shaft during said elevation.

6. In a device of the character described, in combination, a vertical lamp bulb, a shield around the lower portion of said bulb to establish a lower` limit to the Zone of illumination from said bulb, a reflecting member supported at the top of said bulb, said member having flaring lower surfaces adapted to intercept upward rays of light and reflect the same outward, whereby said zone of illumination may be substantially limited to an annular band, a transparent cylindrical platen associated with said bulb and concentric therewith, means to move said platen axially past said bulb whereby said platen may traverse said annular Zone of illumination, and adjustable means to govern the speed of said movement.

'7. In a device of the character described, in combination, a vertical lamp bulb, a shield around the lower portion of said bulb to establish a lower limit to the Zone of illumination from said bulb, a reflecting member supported at the top of said bulb, said member having iiaring lower surfaces adapted to intercept upward rays of light and reect the same outward, whereby said zone of illumination may be substantially limited to an annular band, a transparent cylindrical platen associated with said bulb and concentric therewith, means to move said platen axially past said bulb whereby said platen may traverse said annular zone of illumination, adjustable means to govern the speed of said movement, and means on the ends of said platen to prevent emission of light when said platen is beyond the limits of said zone of illumination.

MEYRAN A. LOTZ` 

